Why cant both be true? Pretty sure we could play tennis back and fourth with examples that validify both viewpoints. Im a recovering Roman Catholic myself. No stranger to the brainwashing there. Same concept for both, but just in different ends of the spectrum. 

Wherein one is brainwashed via culture infilitration, hijacking, and manipulation. The other brainwashed through religious doctrine that is drilled into since birth. Both have a lot of deprogramming and therapy required to achieve a better quality of life with a firmer grasp on facts based on reality. Not feelings.